Aerodrome.



W. SINCLAIR. ABRODEOME.

APPLICATION FILEDOUT. 21, 1908. v

93 1 ,966. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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AERODROME.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 190B.

lfatented Aug. 24. 1909.

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li mentor Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

W. SINCLAIR. AERODROME.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1908.

if the spiral was one continuous incline.

WILLIAM SINCLAIR, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AERODROME To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLLAM SINCLAIR, of

San'Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have inventedcertain new 7 and useful Improvements in Aer'odromes;

and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved aerodrome and its object is to provide aheavier than air flying machine capable of lifting itself and operator,also passengers and freight, and transporting the same through the airby its 'own motive power, and movable in any direction at the will ofthe operator. The liftin power is derived from large screw-propellers ofnovel construction, and the general structure and mode of operation ofthe aeromotor will be ex lained with reference to the accompanyingrawings which graphically illustrate sue a features of the invention;but of coursefdo not illustrate the proper relative dimensions of arts.

11 said drawings-Figure l is a side view of the machine. Fig. 2 is atransverse section on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, withhoods removed. Fi 4 is an end elevation. Fig.5 is an enlarge verticalsection through one of the lifting propellers. Fig. 6 is adiagrammatical view i ustrating the principle of construction of thelifting pro ellers.

' he principal feature of the invention is the novel construction of thelifting propellers of which two are shown arranged side y side andparallel. Each propeller comrises a central shaft 1, a stepped spiralblade, and a cylindrical casing 1 The blade or spiral is composed ofalternate rigidly disposed segmental-shaped flat portions 1 andsegmental-shaped inclined portions 1. The object of this construction isto produce a more efficient lifting action of the air upon thepropellers, as at each of the an les formed at the-junctions of the fiatand inr ined ortions, the air will be diverted downwardly as indicatedby the arrows in the dis. rammatic Fig. 6; and the air will strike t eunderside of the inclines 1' more forcefully and with greater liftingeffect thgn' n this way the inclines 1 can be made more steep than wouldbe the case if the spiral was one continuous'uniform incline; because inSpecification of Letters Patent Application filed October 21, 1908.

as with my construction t interrupted or changed at each incline, and

machine, and the essential.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909. Serial No. 458,874.

such case the air bec'oines nothing more than a strong current rushingthrough the channel between the spirals of the ropeller. Wherehiscurrent of air is greater lifting effect is thereby produced. The parts1", 1, of the propeller form an interrupted or stepped spiral the inneredges of which are secured to the shaft 1, and the outer edges arefastened to the cylindric casing 1", so that the air can enter freely atone end of the casing and escape from the other end thereof, while it iskept from lateral diffusion. The propeller would 0 crate without thecylindrical casing 1, but prefor to use such casing so asv to create astrong powerful air draft through the casing. v I The shaft 1 of thepropellers may be j ournaled in suitable bearings on the extremities ofthe up er part or head ofthe framing 2, and which framing may besubstantially T- shaped and has a part 2 depending between the adjacentpropellers. The casings 1 of the propellers may be loosely guidedbyrings 1 fastened to the portion 2 of the frame as indicated in thedrawings. The framing should be constructed as light as possibleconsistent with necessary strength and may he'of skeleton form andsuitably braced so as to ofier the least resistance to the air. I havenot herein attempted to illustrate the exact details of the frame.

Upon portion 2 of the frame may be mounted an explosive engine 3, themain shaft of which may be geared by bevel gears 3 to a vertical shaft 3which is in turn geared by beveled pinions 3 to transverse shafts 3 dthat in turnaregeared to the upper ends of shafts 1 as indicated at 3 inthe drawings and so that the propellers can be driven by. direct gearingfrom the engine shaft. The invention however is not restricted to theuse of beveled gears for use preferably arranged so that they can beprojected into the currents of air issuing rom the propeller casings. Asshown in Fig. 1 a rudderfl is connected to the lower ,end of the frameand can be swung beneath the r' ht -hand pro eller. This rudder should emade very lig t, and is so mounted which it is held in the currentdetermining the direction of flight of the machine.

Another rudder 5 can be pivoted on the.

lower end of the frame as at 5 and may be operated by a hand or footlever 5 so as to be moved into the current of air issuingfrom-the'adjacent cylinder 1*. The casings and lifting propellers areintended to revolve together. At suflicient speed of rotation of theIpropellers the machine would rise clear oft e ground and the height towhich it ascends can be controlled by regulating the speed of theropellersyits forward movements would e controlled by adjusting thepropellers 4 and 5, which would cause it to tilt more or less. Thecenter of gravity would be made so low that the machine would naturallytend to remain substantiall upright.

'T e frame-work of the machine may be supported on wheels 6 as indicatedin the drawings so that it can be easily transported when not flying;

If desired the cylinders may be provided with mouth-pieces or hoods 1,so as to catch the air and direct it into the spiral air channel in thecylinders and thus assist in creating a rapid forcible lifting currentthrough the said channels.

Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent thereon is: I

1'. A spiral propeller or fan having its spiral formed of alternatingflats and inclines,-

a spiral formed of alternating flat and inclined sections, for theurpose specified.

5. In an aerodrome t e combination of a frame, a pair'of' pro ellerssuspended from said frame side by si e, an open ended cylinder inclosingeach propeller, each propeller having a spiral formed of alternatingflat and inclined sections, for the purpose specified.

6. In an aerodrome the combination of a frame, a pair of propellerssuspended from said frame side by side, an open ended cylinder'inclosing each pro eller and rotatable therewith, a motor on t e framefor driving said pro ellers and rudders connected to the.

ame adjacent the lower ends of the cylinders.

8. A spiral propeller or fan having its spiral formed of alternatingflats and inclines, and a cylindric casin inclosing said spiral, and amouth-piece or Imod on the upper end of the casing adapted to direct airthereinto.-

9; In an aerodrome, a rotatable cylinder,.

provided with an internal spiral lifting .ropeller, anda hood adapted tocatch anzFdirect air into the receiving end of the cylinder.

10. In an aerodrome the combination of a frame, a pair of liftingpropellers connected therewith, each comprising a spiral, an inclosingcylinder, and a hood on one end of the cylinder ada ted to catch anddirect air to the spiral, su stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signaturein presenceof two witnesses. a

' WILLIAM SINCLAIR.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN F. SHERMAN, CHAS. W. MOCONNAUGHY.

